Subscription activation for mobile wireless devices

ABSTRACT

This Application sets forth techniques for provisioning and activating electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobile wireless devices. An eSIM is reserved during a sales order process and later activated during device activation after receipt by a user. An option for eSIM installation in place of (or in addition to) physical SIM installation is provided when purchasing the mobile wireless device. The reserved eSIM can replace a previous SIM/eSIM or be a new eSIM. During device activation, installation and activation of the eSIM occurs. Activation of the eSIM can occur before or after deactivation of a transferred SIM/eSIM. The mobile wireless device accounts for propagation delay of eSIM activation through MNO servers by disabling and re-enabling the eSIM until initial attachment to an MNO cellular wireless network succeeds or a maximum number of retry attempts is reached.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 16/902,216, entitled “SUBSCRIPTION ACTIVATION FOR MOBILE WIRELESSDEVICES,” filed Jun. 15, 2020, the content of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The described embodiments set forth techniques for provisioning andactivating electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobilewireless devices newly purchased via online or retail sales channels.One or more eSIMs are reserved for the mobile wireless device as part ofa sales order and later activated when device activation of the mobilewireless device occurs after receipt by a user.

BACKGROUND

Many mobile wireless devices are configured to use removable UniversalIntegrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) that enable the mobile wireless devicesto access services provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). Inparticular, each UICC includes at least a microprocessor and a read-onlymemory (ROM), where the ROM is configured to store an MNO profile thatthe wireless device can use to register and interact with an MNO toobtain wireless services via a cellular wireless network. A profile mayalso be referred to as subscriber identity module (SIM). Typically, aUICC takes the form of a small removable card, commonly referred to as aSIM card, which is inserted into a UICC-receiving bay of a mobilewireless device. In more recent implementations, UICCs are beingembedded directly into system boards of wireless devices as embeddedUICCs (eUICCs), which can provide advantages over traditional, removableUICCs. The eUICCs can include a rewritable memory that can facilitateinstallation, modification, and/or deletion of one or more electronicSIMs (eSIMs) on the eUICC, where the eSIMs can provide for new and/ordifferent services and/or updates for accessing extended featuresprovided by MNOs. An eUICC can store a number of MNO profiles—alsoreferred to herein as eSIMs—and can eliminate the need to includeUICC-receiving bays in wireless devices.

A mobile wireless device, at initial acquisition by an end user via asales channel, can include a SIM card associated with a particular MNO,but cannot be ordered with only an eSIM for the MNO. Moreover, mobilewireless devices purchased as SIM-free, can require a user to acquireand insert an active SIM card in order to activate the mobile wirelessdevice for cellular wireless service. There exists a need for methods toprovide for purchasing a mobile wireless device with one or more eSIMsreserved for the mobile wireless device and subsequently activated aspart of a device activation process performed on the mobile wirelessdevice after acquisition by the user.

SUMMARY

This Application sets forth techniques for provisioning and activatingelectronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobile wirelessdevices newly purchased via online or retail sales channels. One or moreeSIMs are reserved for the mobile wireless device as part of a salesorder and later activated when device activation of the mobile wirelessdevice occurs after receipt by a user. During purchase of the mobilewireless device, a user can select an option for eSIM installation inplace of (or in addition to) physical SIM installation for access toservices of a particular mobile network operator (MNO). The reservedeSIM can be used to replace a previously used SIM/eSIM for an existingcustomer of the MNO, such as when upgrading a mobile wireless device toa new model, or can be a new eSIM for a new mobile wireless device addedto an existing customer account or for a new customer account. A phonenumber associated with the eSIM can be newly assigned or ported from aprevious subscription. User verification, to validate enablingsubscription to cellular wireless service based on the eSIM for themobile wireless device, occurs as part of a device activation processfor the mobile wireless device. A set of device manufacturer servers caninteract with the mobile wireless device and with MNO servers to causeactivation of the eSIM for the mobile wireless device. As part of asales order process, a device manufacturer server receives from an MNOserver a message indicating an eSIM is reserved for provisioning to themobile wireless device, the message including identifiers for the mobilewireless device and for the reserved eSIM. The message also includes anindication whether activation of the eSIM is delayed until deviceactivation of the mobile wireless device. During the device activationprocess for the mobile wireless device, after receipt of the mobilewireless device by the user, activation of the eSIM is authorized andconfirmed by communication between the mobile wireless device and boththe device manufacturer servers and the MNO servers. Activation of theeSIM can occur before or after deactivation of a previous eSIM for whichsubscription service is transferred to the mobile wireless device. Insome embodiments, the mobile wireless device accounts for propagationdelay of an activation process through MNO servers by disabling andre-enabling the eSIM until initial attachment to a cellular wirelessnetwork of the MNO succeeds.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the described embodiments.

This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some exampleembodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects ofthe subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat the above-described features are merely examples and should not beconstrued to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter describedherein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter described herein will become apparent from the followingDetailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of different components of anexemplary system configured to implement the various techniquesdescribed herein, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a more detailed view of exemplarycomponents of the system of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary sales order page including an option forselecting an eSIM subscription for a mobile wireless device, accordingto some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate exemplary sequences of actions performedto provision and activate an eSIM for a mobile wireless device,according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate additional exemplary sequences ofactions performed to provision and activate an eSIM for a mobilewireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate an exemplary sequence of actionsperformed for installing and activating an eSIM on a mobile wirelessdevice before deactivation of an associated, corresponding SIM or eSIMfor a second mobile wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6D illustrates an exemplary monitor mode state machine for initialactivation of an eSIM for a mobile wireless device, according to someembodiments.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an exemplary sequence of actions performedfor installing and activating an eSIM to a mobile wireless device afterdeactivation of an associated, corresponding SIM or eSIM for a secondmobile wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a set of exemplary display screens for on-deviceactivation of an eSIM during device activation of a mobile wirelessdevice, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method performed by oneor more network-based servers to provision and activate an eSIM for amobile wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a flowchart of an exemplary methodperformed by a mobile wireless device to provision and activate an eSIMto the mobile wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary elements of a mobilewireless device, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative applications of methods and apparatus according to thepresent application are described in this section. These examples arebeing provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of thedescribed embodiments. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in theart that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or allof these specific details. In other instances, well known process stepshave not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the described embodiments. Other applications are possible,such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting.

In the following detailed description, references are made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in whichare shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in accordancewith the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are describedin sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice thedescribed embodiments, it is understood that these examples are notlimiting; such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the describedembodiments.

This Application sets forth techniques for provisioning and activatingelectronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for mobile wirelessdevices newly purchased via an online sales channel or via a retailsales channel. One or more eSIMs are reserved for the mobile wirelessdevice as part of a sales order and later activated when deviceactivation of the mobile wireless device occurs after receipt of themobile wireless device by a user. During purchase of the mobile wirelessdevice, a user can opt for eSIM installation in place of (or in additionto) physical SIM installation for access to cellular wireless servicesof a particular mobile network operator (MNO). The eSIM option can be asub-option for a particular MNO selected by the user during the salesorder process. The reserved eSIM can be used to replace a previouslyused SIM/eSIM for an existing customer of the MNO, such as whenupgrading a mobile wireless device to a new model. In such case, a phonenumber of the previous mobile wireless device can be ported to the newmobile wireless device, and a cellular wireless subscription associatedwith the phone number transferred from the SIM/eSIM of the previousmobile wireless device to the eSIM of the new mobile wireless device.Alternatively, the eSIM can be a new eSIM for installation on a newmobile wireless device that is added to an existing customer account,such when adding a mobile wireless device with a newly assigned phonenumber (or transferring a phone number from a different customer accountto the existing customer account). The eSIM can also be a new eSIM for anew mobile wireless device for a new customer account, for whichsubscription information can be obtained as part of the sales orderprocess. User verification, to validate enabling subscription tocellular wireless service based on the eSIM for the mobile wirelessdevice, occurs as part of a device activation process for the mobilewireless device.

A set of device manufacturer servers interact with the mobile wirelessdevice and with MNO servers to cause activation of the eSIM for themobile wireless device. As part of a sales order process, a devicemanufacturer carrier services server receives from an MNO infrastructureserver a message indicating that an eSIM is reserved for a particularmobile wireless device, the message including identifiers for the mobilewireless device and for the reserved eSIM. The message also includes anindication whether activation of the eSIM is delayed until deviceactivation of the mobile wireless device, e.g., for a mobile wirelessdevice shipped to the customer or to be picked up from a retail store ata later time, or whether activation of the eSIM is to occursubstantially immediately, e.g., when purchasing and activating a mobilewireless device at a retail store. During the device activation processfor the mobile wireless device, after receipt of the mobile wirelessdevice by the user, activation of the eSIM is authorized and confirmedby communication between the mobile wireless device and both the devicemanufacturer servers and MNO servers. Activation of the eSIM can occurbefore or after deactivation of a previous SIM/eSIM when a cellularwireless subscription is transferred to the mobile wireless device froma previous mobile wireless device. In some embodiments, the mobilewireless device accounts for propagation delay of an eSIM serviceactivation process through multiple MNO servers, such as by monitoringwhether the eSIM has been activated by the cellular wireless networkbased on successful (or failure of) attachment to a cellular wirelessnetwork of the MNO associated with the eSIM. The mobile wireless devicecan enter a monitor mode and, as required, disable and subsequentlyre-enable the eSIM until initial attachment to the cellular wirelessnetwork of the MNO succeeds or a maximum number of retry attempts toattach to the cellular wireless network is reached.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-11; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of different components of a system100 that is configured to implement the various techniques describedherein, according to some embodiments. More specifically, FIG. 1illustrates a high-level overview of the system 100, which, as shown,includes a mobile wireless device 102, which can also be referred to asa wireless device, a wireless device, a mobile device, a user equipment(UE) and the like, a group of base stations 112-1 to 112-N that aremanaged by different Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 114, and a set ofprovisioning servers 116 that are in communication with the MNOs 114.Additional MNO infrastructure servers, such as used for accountmanagement and billing are not shown. The mobile wireless device 102 canrepresent a mobile computing device (e.g., an iPhone® or an iPad® byApple®), the base stations 112-1 to 112-n can represent cellularwireless network entities including evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs or eNBs)and/or next generation NodeBs (gNodeBs or gNB) that are configured tocommunicate with the mobile wireless device 102, and the MNOs 114 canrepresent different wireless service providers that provide specificcellular wireless services (e.g., voice and data) to which the mobilewireless device 102 can subscribe, such as via a subscription accountfor a user of the mobile wireless device 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile wireless device 102 can includeprocessing circuitry, which can include one or more processor(s) 104 anda memory 106, an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) 108,and a baseband wireless circuitry 110 used for transmission andreception of cellular wireless radio frequency signals. The basebandwireless circuitry 110 can include analog hardware components, such asantennas and amplifiers, as well as digital processing components, suchas signal processors (and/or general/limited purpose processors) andassociated memory. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device 102includes one or more physical UICCs 118, also referred to as SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) cards, in addition to or substituting for theeUICC 108. The components of the mobile wireless device 102 worktogether to enable the mobile wireless device 102 to provide usefulfeatures to a user of the mobile wireless device 102, such as cellularwireless network access, non-cellular wireless network access, localizedcomputing, location-based services, and Internet connectivity. The eUICC108 can be configured to store multiple electronic SIMS (eSIMs) foraccessing cellular wireless services provided by different MNOs 114 byconnecting to their respective cellular wireless networks through basestations 112-1 to 112-N. For example, the eUICC 108 can be configured tostore and manage one or more eSIMs for one or more MNOs 114 fordifferent subscriptions to which the mobile wireless device 102 isassociated. To be able to access services provided by an MNO, an eSIM isreserved for subsequent download and installation to the eUICC 108. Insome embodiments, the eUICC 108 obtains one or more eSIMs from one ormore associated provisioning servers 116 as part of a deviceinitialization of the mobile wireless device 102, such as whenpurchasing a new mobile wireless device 102. The provisioning servers116 can be maintained by a manufacturer of the mobile wireless device102, the MNOs 114, third party entities, and the like. Communication ofeSIM data between an MNO provisioning server 116 and the eUICC 108 (orbetween the MNO provisioning server 116 and processing circuitry of themobile wireless device 102 external to the eUICC 108, e.g., theprocessor 104) can use a secure communication channel.

The mobile wireless device 102, upon initial acquisition by a user, canlack an activated eSIM and require the user to download a functionaleSIM for the MNO 114 from a corresponding MNO provisioning server 116.As part of a sales order process, the user of the mobile wireless device102 can opt for an eSIM (in place of and/or in addition to a physicalSIM) for the mobile wireless device 102. Network-based servers managedby an MNO 114 associated with the eSIM can communicate with additionalnetwork-based servers managed by a device manufacturer and/or by a thirdparty entity to integrate a device activation process for the mobilewireless device 102 with provisioning and activation of one or moreeSIMs to the mobile wireless device 102. Upon activation of the eSIM,the mobile wireless device 102 can connect to the cellular wirelessnetwork of the MNO 114 to access services provided therefrom.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a more detailed view 200 ofparticular components of the mobile wireless device 102 of FIG. 1,according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the processor(s) 104,in conjunction with memory 106, can implement a main operating system(OS) 202 that is configured to execute applications 204 (e.g., native OSapplications and user applications). As also shown in FIG. 2, the eUICC108 can be configured to implement an eUICC OS 206 that is configured tomanage hardware resources of the eUICC 108 (e.g., a processor and amemory embedded in the eUICC 108). The eUICC OS 206 can also beconfigured to manage eSIMs 208 that are stored by the eUICC 108, e.g.,by downloading, installing, deleting, enabling, disabling, modifying, orotherwise performing management of the eSIMs 208 within the eUICC 108and providing baseband wireless circuitry 110 with access to the eSIMs208 to provide access to wireless services for the mobile wirelessdevice 102. The eUICC 108 OS can include an eSIM manager 210, which canperform management functions for various eSIMs 208. According to theillustration shown in FIG. 2, each eSIM 208 can include a number ofapplets 212 that define the manner in which the eSIM 208 operates. Forexample, one or more of the applets 212, when implemented in conjunctionwith baseband wireless circuitry 110 and the eUICC 108, can beconfigured to enable the mobile wireless device 102 to communicate withan MNO 114 and provide useful features (e.g., phone calls and internetaccess) to a user of the mobile wireless device 102.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the baseband wireless circuitry 110 of themobile wireless device 102 can include a baseband OS 214 that isconfigured to manage hardware resources of the baseband wirelesscircuitry 110 (e.g., a processor, a memory, different radio components,etc.). According to some embodiments, the baseband wireless circuitry110 can implement a baseband manager 216 that is configured to interfacewith the eUICC 108 to establish a secure channel with an MNOprovisioning server 116 and obtaining information (such as eSIM data)from the MNO provisioning server 116 for purposes of managing eSIMs 208.The baseband manager 216 can be configured to implement services 218,which represents a collection of software modules that are instantiatedby way of the various applets 212 of enabled eSIMs 208 that are includedin the eUICC 108. For example, services 218 can be configured to managedifferent connections between the mobile wireless device 102 and MNOs114 according to the different eSIMs 208 that are enabled within theeUICC 108.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram 300 of an exemplary sales order pageincluding an option for selecting an eSIM subscription for a mobilewireless device 102. The eSIM option can be presented along with anoption for a physical SIM card (UICC) after a user has selected aparticular MNO (wireless carrier) to which to subscribe for access tocellular wireless services for the mobile wireless device 102. The usercan purchase the mobile wireless device 102 online via a devicemanufacturer website, a third party website, an MNO website, or thelike. The user can also purchase the mobile wireless device 102 at aretail store, such as provided by the MNO, by the device manufacturer,or by a third party. If the user chooses an eSIM option, then the usercan also elect to re-use an existing phone number to port with the eSIM208 to the mobile wireless device 102 being purchased or to use a newphone number. The use can be asked whether they are an existing customerof the MNO or a new customer and applicable user credential information(to verify an existing customer or to onboard a new customer) can beobtained to authorize purchase of the mobile wireless device 102 and/ortransfer of a cellular wireless service subscription to the mobilewireless device 102 (e.g., to use with the eSIM 208 option, ifselected).

FIG. 4A illustrates a diagram 400 of an exemplary sequence of actionsperformed to provision and activate an eSIM 208 for a mobile wirelessdevice 102, in particular when reservation of an eSIM 208 for a mobilewireless device 102 during a sales order process is separatedsubstantially in time from installation and activation of the eSIM 208on a mobile wireless device 102 during a device activation process. At402, a user can place a sales order for a mobile wireless device 102,e.g., via an online store. At 404, the user can be presented with anoption to select an eSIM 208 to be installed on an eUICC 108 of themobile wireless device 102 and with which to access cellular wirelessservices, e.g., in place of or in addition to a physical SIM card (UICC118) to use for cellular wireless service access. The eSIM option can bepresented after a user has selected an MNO 114 with which to subscribefor cellular wireless services. If the eSIM option is not selected, thenat 406, the mobile wireless device 102 can be configured to include aphysical SIM card (UICC 118) and ship to the user (or to anotherlocation for user access), and the user can perform an activationprocedure for the mobile wireless device 102 that need not includedownloading, installation, and/or activation of an eSIM 208 for themobile wireless device. If the eSIM option is selected, then at 408, theuser can indicate whether they are an existing customer of the MNO 114,e.g., have an active cellular wireless service subscription and/oraccount with the MNO 114. If the user is not an existing customer of theMNO 114, then at 410, the user can provide information for adding a newcustomer to the MNO 114, and a new phone number can be allocated for usewith the eSIM 208 that is to be later installed and activated on themobile wireless device 102 for access to cellular wireless services ofthe MNO 114 by the user of the mobile wireless device 102. If the useris an existing customer of the MNO 114, then at 412, customerinformation can be obtained to verify the user has an active wirelessservice subscription with an associated phone number to transfer to themobile wireless device 102 for use with the eSIM 208 and/or an existingcustomer account to which to add a new phone number for use with theeSIM 208 on the mobile wireless device 102. At 414, an activationservices message, e.g., a park order application programming interface(API) message, can be sent by an MNO infrastructure server, as a resultof the customer sales order that includes an eSIM option selected, withan indication of a delayed tether action, in which an eSIM 208 isreserved for the mobile wireless device 102 and will be later downloadedto and installed and activated on the mobile wireless device 102. Thepark order API message can be sent to a device manufacturer MNO servicesserver that communicates with one or more MNOs 114 regarding servicesfor mobile wireless devices 102 of the device manufacturer. At 416, anMNO infrastructure message, e.g., an ES2+ download order message andconfirmation message, can be sent by the MNO infrastructure server to anMNO provisioning server 116, which can trigger the MNO provisioningserver 116 to send an ES12 register event message to a devicemanufacturer device services server. The ES12 register event message canindicate that an eSIM 208 is reserved for a particular mobile wirelessdevice 102 that will be shipped to and/or picked up by a user and thatthe eSIM 208 will be available for subsequent download, installation,and activation on an eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At418, the mobile wireless device 102 is shipped to a user (e.g., acustomer that ordered the mobile wireless device 102) without inclusionof a physical SIM card (UICC 118). At 420, a user of the mobile wirelessdevice 102 performs a device activation process, part of which caninclude downloading and installing the reserved eSIM 208 onto the eUICC108 of the mobile wireless device 102 and subsequent activation by oneor more network-based servers of the MNO 114 to allow for access tocellular wireless services of the MNO 114 based on credentials of theeSIM 208 including in the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102.

FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrate diagrams 430, 470 of exemplary actionsperformed by a number of entities to provision and activate an eSIM 208for a mobile wireless device 102 with delayed activation of the eSIM208. At 440, an MNO infrastructure server 438 sends an ES2+ downloadorder and confirmation message to an MNO provisioning server 116 inresponse to receipt of a sales order for a mobile wireless device 102,the sales order including an indication of selection of an eSIM 208 forsubsequent download, installation, and activation for the mobilewireless device 102. At 442, the MNO provisioning server 116 sends anES12 register event message, triggered by the ES2+ download order andconfirmation message, to a device manufacturer device services server434, where the ES12 register event message includes an indication thatthere is an eSIM 208 (or multiple eSIMs 208) reserved for the mobilewireless device 102. The ES12 register event message can includeidentifiers for the mobile wireless device 102 and the eSIM(s) 208.Substantially commensurate with the download and register eventmessages, an MNO infrastructure server 438, at 444, sends a park ordermessage to a device manufacturer MNO services server 436, the park ordermessage indicating a sales order for the mobile wireless device 102 andincluding at least identifiers for the mobile wireless device 102 andone or more eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device 102. The park ordermessage can also include an indication that download, installation, andactivation of the one or more eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device102 will occur at a future time (e.g., a delayed tethered actionindication). At 446, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 canforward the park order message (or form and send a similar message) tothe device manufacturer device services server 434 to provideinformation regarding the sales order. At 448, the device manufacturerdevice services server 434 can correlate information extracted from thepark order message, received at 446 from the MNO infrastructure server438 via the device manufacturer MNO services server 436, withinformation obtained from the ES12 register event message received at442 from the MNO provisioning server 116. The actions at 440, 442, 444,446, and 448 can occur as a result of a sales order process for themobile wireless device 102 and can be separated in time from subsequentactions that occur as part of a device activation process for the mobilewireless device 102.

At 450, a user (or a sales associate) can initiate a device activationprocess for the mobile wireless device 102, which can cause the mobilewireless device 102 to send a message to the device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 to activate cellular services for the mobilewireless device 102. At 452, the device manufacturer device servicesserver 434 can redirect the mobile wireless device 102 to the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436. At 454, the mobile wireless device102 can send a message to the device manufacturer MNO services server436 to activate cellular services for the mobile wireless device 102. At456, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 can send a messageto the MNO infrastructure server 438 to locate and confirm thepreviously indicated park order for the mobile wireless device 102 andsubsequently receive a response from the MNO infrastructure server 438confirming an order status for the park order and information usable forauthentication of a user of the mobile wireless device 102. At 458, thedevice manufacturer MNO services server sends a message to the mobilewireless device 102 to authenticate the user of the mobile wirelessdevice 102. The message sent to the mobile wireless device 102 can alsoinclude information for installation of the reserved eSIM for the mobilewireless device 102. At 460, the mobile wireless device 102 can presenta credential challenge, e.g., via a display of the mobile wirelessdevice 102 requesting an input to authenticate a user 432 of the mobilewireless device 102, and subsequently, at 462, the mobile wirelessdevice 102 can receive the credential response, which can be forwardedto the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 to authenticate theuser 432 of the mobile wireless device 102 with the MNO infrastructureserver 438 at 466. The device manufacturer MNO services server 436obtains an authentication response at 466 and forwards theauthentication response from the device to the mobile wireless device102 at 468. With authentication of the user 432 successful, the mobilewireless device 102, at 472, can query the device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 for information about one or more pending eSIMs 208reserved and available for download and installation on the mobilewireless device 102. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device 102uses a check available options message to obtain the informationregarding the one or more pending eSIMs 208. When, at 474, anidentifier, e.g., an integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) value,of an eSIM 208 indicated in the information received, by the mobilewireless device 102 from the device manufacturer device services server434 at 472, matches to a corresponding identifier, e.g., ICCID value,from eSIM installation information, received by the mobile wirelessdevice 102 from the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 at 458,the mobile wireless device 102 can trigger download and installation ofthe identified eSIM 208 from an MNO provisioning server 116 at 476. WheneSIM download and installation succeeds, at 478, the mobile wirelessdevice 102 informs the device manufacturer device services server 434 ofthe successful installation of the eSIM (profile) 208 at 480. In someembodiments, the mobile wireless device 102 uses a check availableoptions message to inform the device manufacturer device services server434 of the successful eSIM installation. At 482, the device manufacturerdevice services server 434 sends a message to the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 of the successful installation of the eSIM 208,and, at 484, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 sends amessage to the MNO infrastructure server 438, e.g., a complete parkorder message, indicating the successful installation of the eSIM 208 onthe mobile wireless device 102. At 486, one or more MNO infrastructureservers 438 can cause cellular wireless service for the newly installedeSIM 208 to be activated for the mobile wireless device 102. In someembodiments, such as when a previous phone number or a correspondingcellular wireless service subscription is transferred from a previousmobile wireless device 102 to the mobile wireless device 102 as a resultof the newly installed eSIM 208, a corresponding previous SIM card (UICC118) or eSIM 208 of the previous mobile wireless device 102 can bedeactivated at 488.

FIG. 5A illustrates a diagram 500 of another exemplary sequence ofactions performed to provision and activate an eSIM 208 for a mobilewireless device 102, in particular when reservation of an eSIM 208 forthe mobile wireless device 102 during a sales order process occurssubstantially close in time with installation and activation of the eSIM208 on the mobile wireless device 102 during a device activationprocess. At 502, a user purchases a mobile wireless device 102 at apoint-of-sale retail location, such as managed by a device manufacturer,an MNO, or a third party. At 504, the user opt for an eSIM 208 to beinstalled on an eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102 and withwhich to access cellular wireless services, e.g., in place of or inaddition to a physical SIM card (UICC 118) to use for cellular wirelessservice access. If the eSIM option is not selected, then at 506, themobile wireless device 102 can be configured with a physical SIM card(UICC 118) and provided to the user, and, subsequently, the user canperform an activation procedure for the mobile wireless device 102 thatneed not include downloading, installation, and/or activation of an eSIM208 for the mobile wireless device. If the eSIM option is selected, thenat 508, the user can provide information about whether they are anexisting customer of the MNO 114, e.g., have an active cellular wirelessservice subscription and/or account with the MNO 114. If the user is notan existing customer of the MNO 114, then at 510, the user can provideinformation for adding a new customer to the MNO 114, and a new phonenumber can be allocated for use with the eSIM 208 that is to beinstalled and activated on the mobile wireless device 102 for access tocellular wireless services of the MNO 114 by the user of the mobilewireless device 102. If the user is an existing customer of the MNO 114,then at 512, customer information can be obtained to verify the user hasan active wireless service subscription with an associated phone numberto transfer to the mobile wireless device 102 for use with the eSIM 208and/or an existing customer account to which to add a new phone numberfor use with the eSIM 208 on the mobile wireless device 102. Informationobtained at 510/512 can be used for authentication of a user of themobile wireless device 102 to obtain an eSIM 208 to access cellularwireless services. Authentication information can be provided toappropriate network-based servers, e.g., managed by a devicemanufacturer and/or by an MNO 114 to cause an installation andactivation process for the eSIM 208 to proceed. At 514, an activationservices message, e.g., a park order application programming interface(API) message, can be sent by an MNO infrastructure server 438, as aresult of the customer sales order that includes an eSIM optionselected, with an indication of an immediate (now) tether action, inwhich an eSIM 208 is to be reserved for downloading, installation, andactivation on the mobile wireless device 102. The park order API messagecan be sent to a device manufacturer MNO services server 436 thatcommunicates with one or more MNOs 114 regarding services for mobilewireless devices 102 of the device manufacturer. At 516, an MNOinfrastructure message, e.g., an ES2+ download order message andconfirmation message, can be sent by the MNO infrastructure server 438to an MNO provisioning server 116, which can trigger the MNOprovisioning server 116 to send an ES12 register event message to adevice manufacturer device services server 434. The ES12 register eventmessage can indicate that an eSIM 208 is reserved for a particularmobile wireless device 102 and that the eSIM 208 will be available fordownload, installation, and activation on an eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102. At 518, a user of the mobile wireless device 102performs a device activation process, part of which can includedownloading and installing the reserved eSIM 208 onto the eUICC 108 ofthe mobile wireless device 102 and subsequent activation by one or morenetwork-based servers of the MNO 114 to allow for access to cellularwireless services of the MNO 114 based on credentials of the eSIM 208including in the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102.Authentication of the user need not occur at 518, as authenticationcredentials for the user can occur as part of the earlier sales orderprocess.

FIGS. 5B and 5C illustrate diagrams 530, 560 of exemplary actionsperformed by a number of entities to provision and activate an eSIM 208for a mobile wireless device 102 with immediate activation of the eSIM208. At 540, an MNO infrastructure server 438 sends an ES2+ downloadorder and confirmation message to an MNO provisioning server 116 inresponse to receipt of a sales order for a mobile wireless device 102,the sales order including an indication of selection of an eSIM 208 forsubsequent download, installation, and activation for the mobilewireless device 102. At 542, the MNO provisioning server 116 sends anES12 register event message, triggered by the ES2+ download order andconfirmation message, to a device manufacturer device services server434, where the ES12 register event message includes an indication thatthere is an eSIM 208 (or multiple eSIMs 208) reserved for the mobilewireless device 102. The ES12 register event message can includeidentifiers for the mobile wireless device 102 and the eSIM(s) 208.Substantially commensurate with the download and register eventmessages, an MNO infrastructure server 438, at 544, sends a park ordermessage to a device manufacturer MNO services server 436, the park ordermessage indicating a sales order for the mobile wireless device 102 andincluding at least identifiers for the mobile wireless device 102 andone or more eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device 102. The park ordermessage can also include an indication that download, installation, andactivation of the one or more eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device102 will occur substantially commensurate with purchase of the mobilewireless device 102 (e.g., an immediate tethered action indication). At446, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 can forward thepark order message (or form and send a similar message) to the devicemanufacturer device services server 434 to provide information regardingthe sales order. At 448, the device manufacturer device services server434 can correlate information extracted from the park order message,received at 446 from the MNO infrastructure server 438 via the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436, with information obtained from theES12 register event message received at 442 from the MNO provisioningserver 116.

At 550, a user (or a sales associate) can initiate a device activationprocess for the mobile wireless device 102, which can cause the mobilewireless device 102 to send a message to the device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 to activate cellular services for the mobilewireless device 102. At 552, the device manufacturer device servicesserver 434 can redirect the mobile wireless device 102 to the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436. At 554, the mobile wireless device102 can send a message to the device manufacturer MNO services server436 to activate cellular services for the mobile wireless device 102. At556, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 can send a messageto the MNO infrastructure server 438 to locate and confirm thepreviously indicated park order for the mobile wireless device 102 andsubsequently receive a response from the MNO infrastructure server 438confirming an order status for the park order. At 558, the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 can provide eSIM installationinformation for the reserved eSIM 208 to the mobile wireless device 102.The mobile wireless device 102, at 562, can query the devicemanufacturer device services server 434 for information about one ormore pending eSIMs 208 available for download and installation on themobile wireless device 102. In some embodiments, the mobile wirelessdevice 102 uses a check available options message to obtain theinformation regarding the one or more pending eSIMs 208. When, at 564,an identifier, e.g., an integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID)value, of an eSIM 208 indicated in the information received, by themobile wireless device 102 from the device manufacturer device servicesserver 434 at 562, matches to a corresponding identifier, e.g., ICCIDvalue, from eSIM installation information, received by the mobilewireless device 102 from the device manufacturer MNO services server 436at 558, the mobile wireless device 102 can trigger download andinstallation of the identified eSIM 208 from an MNO provisioning server116 at 566. When eSIM download and installation succeeds, at 568, themobile wireless device 102 informs the device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 of the successful installation of the eSIM (profile)208 at 570. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device 102 uses acheck available options message to inform the device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 of the successful eSIM installation. The devicemanufacturer device services server 434 sends a message to the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 of the successful installation ofthe eSIM 208 at 572, and, at 574, the device manufacturer MNO servicesserver 436 sends a message to the MNO infrastructure server 438, e.g., acomplete park order message, indicating the successful installation ofthe eSIM on the mobile wireless device 102. At 576, one or more MNOinfrastructure servers 438 can cause service for the newly installedeSIM 208 to be activated for the mobile wireless device 102. In someembodiments, such as when a previous phone number or a correspondingservice subscription is transferred from a previous mobile wirelessdevice 102 to the mobile wireless device 102 as a result of the newlyinstalled eSIM 208, a corresponding previous SIM card (UICC 118) or eSIM208 of the previous mobile wireless device 102 can be deactivated at578.

The park order message, sent at 414 in FIG. 4A, at 444/446 in FIG. 4B,at 514 in FIG. 5A, or at 544/546 in FIG. 5B, can include values inparameter fields that provide information regarding the sales order forthe mobile wireless device 102 and/or for the eSIM(s) 208 reserved forthe mobile wireless device 102. The park order message can include aneUICC identifier (EID) value for the eUICC 108 of the associated mobilewireless device 102 onto which one or more reserved eSIMs 208 can beinstalled. The park order message can also include an tether actionvalue indicating whether eSIM download and installation occurs at afuture time separated from the sales order process, e.g., a delayedtether action, or substantially commensurate with the sales orderprocess, e.g., an immediate (now) tether action. The park order messagecan also include ICCID values for the eSIMs 208 to be subsequentlydownloaded and installed on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device102. The park order message can further include an indication, e.g., aBoolean value, that the sales order for the mobile wireless device 102specifies one or more eSIMs 208 to be subsequently downloaded andinstalled. In some embodiments, cellular wireless service from aprevious mobile wireless device 102 and associated user subscriptionaccount may be transferred to the mobile wireless device 102, and thepark order message can include information about the transfer, e.g., i)an ICCID value for a source SIM/eSIM for which transfer of cellularwireless service to the mobile wireless device 102 is to occur, and/orii) a phone number to be transferred. In some embodiments, the parkorder message includes an existing phone number or a new phone number(or multiples thereof) to be associated with the eSIMs 208 to beinstalled on the mobile wireless device 102. In some embodiments, thepark order message includes information regarding an MNO associated withthe eSIMs 208 to be installed, such as a public land mobile network(PLMN) value, and/or group identifier (GID) values, e.g., GID1, GID2.

The eSIM installation information, sent to the mobile wireless device102 at 458 in FIG. 4B, or at 558 in FIG. 5B, can include values inparameter fields that provide information regarding the SIM(s) 208reserved for installation on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device102. The eSIM installation information can include an existing or newphone number (or multiples thereof) to be associated with the eSIMs 208to be installed on the mobile wireless device 102. The eSIM installationinformation can include an EID value for the eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102 and ICCID values for the new eSIMs 208 to beinstalled. When transferring wireless cellular service from a previousmobile wireless device 102, the eSIM installation information can alsoinclude ICCID values for previous SIMs/eSIMs for which cellular wirelessservice is to be transferred to the mobile wireless device 102. The eSIMinstallation information can also include information for MNOs 114associated with the eSIMs 208 to be installed on the mobile wirelessdevice 102, e.g., PLMN, GID1, and/or GID2 values.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate diagrams 600, 630, 650 of an exemplarysequence of actions performed for installing and activating an eSIM 208on a mobile wireless device 102 before deactivation of an associated,corresponding SIM or eSIM 208 for a second mobile wireless device 102.At 602, an MNO infrastructure server 438 receives a sales order for amobile wireless device 102, which can occur online or at a point-of-saleretail store, where the sales order includes an indication that an eSIM208 should be installed and activated on an eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102. At 604, an MNO infrastructure server 438 sends anES2+ download order and confirmation message to an MNO provisioningserver 116 in response to receipt of a sales order for a mobile wirelessdevice 102, the sales order including an indication of selection of aneSIM 208 for subsequent download, installation, and activation for themobile wireless device 102. At 606, the MNO provisioning server 116provides a response that includes i) an ICCID value for the eSIM 208 tobe installed on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102 and ii)an indication that a previous SIM/eSIM 208 is not to be deactivated yet.At 608, the MNO provisioning server 116 sends an ES12 register eventmessage, triggered by the ES2+ download order and confirmation message,to a device manufacturer device services server 434, where the ES12register event message includes an indication that there is an eSIM 208(or multiple eSIMs 208) reserved for the mobile wireless device 102. TheES12 register event message can include identifiers for the mobilewireless device 102 and the eSIM(s) 208. At 610, the MNO infrastructureserver 438 sends a park order message to a device manufacturer MNOservices server 436, the park order message including informationregarding a sales order for the mobile wireless device 102 and for oneor more eSIMs 208 reserved for installation on the eUICC 108 of themobile wireless device 102. Exemplary information in the park ordermessage include a hardware identifier for the mobile wireless device102, e.g., an international mobile equipment identifier (IMEI), ahardware identifier for the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102,e.g., an eUICC ID (EID) value, and a unique serial number (SN #) for themobile wireless device 102. The park order message can also include anindication that download, installation, and activation of the one ormore eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device 102 will occur at a futuretime (e.g., a delayed tethered action indication). The park ordermessage can further include an indication whether an eSIM 208 isreserved for the mobile wireless device 102 (e.g., a Boolean value), anidentifier for the eSIM 208, e.g., an ICCID value. The park ordermessage can also include, when transferring cellular service for aprevious SIM/eSIM 208 to the mobile wireless device 102, a previousSIM/eSIM identifier value, e.g., a source ICCID value, a phone numberfor transfer, and identifiers for an MNO 114 associated with theSIM/eSIM 208, e.g., PLMN, GID1, and/or GID2 values. At 612, the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 sends to the MNO infrastructureserver a response message including status responsive to the park ordermessage received. The actions at 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, and 612 canoccur as part of a sales order process for purchase of the mobilewireless device 102 with reservation of an eSIM 208, where the salesorder process can, in some embodiments, occur substantially separated intime from a subsequent device activation process that downloads,installs, and activates the eSIM 208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102, e.g., as part of a device activation process. Insome embodiments, the sales order process and device activation process(including download, installation, and activation of the eSIM 208) canoccur substantially in the same time frame, e.g., as part of anin-person device purchase and device activation process at a retailoutlet.

At 614, the mobile wireless device 102 can send a message to the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 to activate cellular services forthe mobile wireless device 102. This message can occur as part of adevice activation process for the mobile wireless device 102 initiatedby a user (or a sales associate). At 616, the device manufacturer MNOservices server 436 can send a find park order message to the MNOinfrastructure server 438 to locate and confirm the previously indicatedpark order for the mobile wireless device 102. The find park ordermessage can include information for locating the park order, such ashardware identifiers for the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., IMEI,EID, SN #, as well as a reference indicator of the MNO 114 (carrier). At618, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 can subsequentlyreceive a response from the MNO infrastructure server 438 confirming anorder status for the park order associated with the MNO 114 (carrier)and information usable for authentication of a user of the mobilewireless device 102. At 620, the device manufacturer MNO services server436 can send an initiate activation message to the mobile wirelessdevice 102, where the initiate activation message can include hardwareand software identifiers associated with the park order, e.g., EIDvalue, ICCID value, source ICCID value, phone number, PLMN, GID values,as well as a credential challenge for authentication of the user of themobile wireless device 102 for installation of the eSIM 208 to the eUICC108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At 622, the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 receives a credential response forauthentication of the user to perform the eSIM 208 installation to themobile wireless device 102. At 624, the device manufacturer MNO servicesserver 436 sends an authenticate user message to an MNO infrastructureserver 438 to authenticate the user of the mobile wireless device 102,the authenticate user message including identifiers for the mobilewireless device 102, e.g., IMEI, EID, SN # values, and identifiers forthe eSIM 208 to be installed on the mobile wireless device 102, e.g.,ICCID value, carrier reference, as well as authentication informationobtained from the mobile wireless device 102. At 626, the MNOinfrastructure server 438 provides an authentication response thatindicates status of authentication of the user of the mobile wirelessdevice 102. Upon successful user authentication, the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 sends, at 628, an activation ticket to themobile wireless device 102 to initiate installation and activation ofthe eSIM 208 for the mobile wireless device 102. At 630, the mobilewireless device 102 obtains an address, e.g., a universal resourcelocator (URL) or equivalent, for the MNO provisioning server 116 fromwhich to obtain the eSIM 208. At 632, the mobile wireless device 102downloads from the MNO provisioning server 116 to the eUICC 108 of themobile wireless device 102 one or more eSIMs 208 reserved for the mobilewireless device 102 previously. At 634, the mobile wireless device 102provides an acknowledgment receipt indicating successful installation ofthe eSIM(s) 208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At636, the MNO provisioning server 116 sends an ES12 delete event message(the deleted event corresponding to the event previously registered at608). At 638, the mobile wireless device 102 sends a message to thedevice manufacturer MNO services server to check for available optionsfor the installed eSIM(s) 208, where the message includes one or moreidentifiers for the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., IMEI, EID, etc.,and/or for the eSIM(s) 208, e.g., ICCID values. At 640, the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 determines whether an ICCID valuefor the eSIM 208 received from the mobile wireless device 102 at 638matches to a corresponding ICCID value for the reserved eSIM 208received in the park order message at 610. At 642, the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 sends a complete park order messageto the MNO infrastructure server 438. The complete park order messageincludes identifiers for the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., IMEI,EID, SN # values, and for the eSIM 208, e.g., ICCID value and carrierreference. The complete park order message can trigger the MNOinfrastructure servers 438 to transfer cellular wireless subscriptionservice from a previous SIM/eSIM 208 of a second mobile wireless device102. The activation of the new eSIM 208 and deactivation of the previousSIM/eSIM 208 can take multiple seconds or minutes to propagate throughall of the MNO infrastructure servers 438 involved. Before completion ofeSIM activation, the mobile wireless device 102 can attempt, at 652, toattach to an access portion of an MNO cellular wireless network 602using credentials from the installed eSIM 208. As the new eSIMactivation may not have completed when the mobile wireless device 102attempts to attach, the MNO cellular wireless network 602 can reject theattachment with a failure message. Responsive to receipt of anattachment failure message from the MNO cellular wireless network 602,the mobile wireless device 102 can enter a monitor mode and attempt tore-attach to the MNO cellular wireless network 602 after a back-offtime. In some embodiments, the eSIM 208 can be disabled and re-enabledto start another attachment attempt to the MNO cellular wireless network602. In some embodiments, wireless circuitry 110, e.g., basebandcomponents, can be reset as part of the monitor mode. At 644, the MNOinfrastructure server(s) 438 complete activation of the new eSIM 208 anddeactivation of the previous SIM/eSIM 208 propagating the activationthrough applicable entities of the MNO cellular wireless network 602.After completion of the eSIM 208 activation, the MNO infrastructureserver 438 provides a response to the device manufacturer MNO servicesserver 436 to indicate cellular wireless service subscription for theeSIM 208 has been successfully completed. At 648, the mobile wirelessdevice successfully attaches to the MNO cellular wireless network 602,and in some embodiments performs an over-the-air (OTA) update for thenewly installed eSIM 208.

FIG. 6D illustrates a diagram 660 of an exemplary monitor mode statemachine for initial activation of an eSIM 208 for a mobile wirelessdevice 102. At 662, an eSIM 208 is installed and activated for a firsttime on a mobile wireless device 102. At 664, the mobile wireless device102 initiates the monitor mode state machine and configures one or moretimers. At 666, the mobile wireless device 102 monitors registrationstatus for the mobile wireless device 102 to determine whether themobile wireless device 102 has successfully attached to an MNO cellularwireless network 602 associated with the newly installed eSIM 208.Activation of the eSIM 208 in all applicable servers of aninfrastructure network of the MNO 114 may require some time to complete,and as such attachment to an access portion of the MNO cellular wirelessnetwork 602 cannot be guaranteed to succeed immediately after completionof installation of the eSIM 208 at the mobile wireless device 102. At666, the mobile wireless device 102 can attempt to attach to an accessportion of the MNO cellular wireless network 602. Successful attachmentto the MNO cellular wireless network 602, indicated at 682, causes themobile wireless device 102 to exit the monitor mode with an attachmentsuccess indication at 694. Attachment failure at 666 causes the mobilewireless device 102 to remain in a monitor mode and upon expiration of atimer at 672, the mobile wireless device 102 disables the eSIM (profile)208 at 674, waits for disablement of the eSIM (profile) 208 to completeat 676, subsequently re-enables the eSIM (profile) 208 at 768, and thenwaits for enablement of the eSIM (profile) 208 to complete at 680 beforere-attempting attachment of the mobile wireless device 102 to the MNOcellular wireless network 602 again at 666. When the mobile wirelessdevice 102 has re-attempted attachment to the MNO cellular wirelessnetwork multiple times, and a maximum number of retry attempts isreached at 668, the mobile wireless device 102 exits monitor mode with afailure indication. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device 102provides an indication of attachment success and/or attachment failure,such as via a display of the mobile wireless device 102.

The monitor mode state machine illustrated in FIG. 6D can compensate forpropagation delay between when an eSIM 208 completes installation on amobile wireless device 102 and when the MNO cellular wireless network602 completes activation of the newly installed eSIM 208 (anddeactivation of a previous eSIM 208 if applicable). The devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436, at 642 in FIG. 6C, indicates tothe MNO infrastructure server 438 that the eSIM installation is complete(and therefore the mobile wireless device 102 can assume that the eSIM208 is ready for use); however, propagation of the eSIM installationcompletion throughout the MNO cellular wireless network 602 can takesome matter of tens of seconds or up to several minutes depending onnetwork loading. Attempting to attach to an access portion of the MNOcellular wireless network 602 by the mobile wireless device 102 beforepropagation of the eSIM activation completes can result in a non-accessstratum (NAS) signaling message indicating a fatal rejection cause. Asspecifications for NAS signaling published by the 3^(rd) GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) can disallow re-attachment by a mobilewireless device 102 to the MNO cellular wireless network 602 using thesame credentials from the eSIM 208 unless the mobile wireless device 102is rebooted (or in the case of a physical SIM card, after the SIM cardis removed and re-inserted into the mobile wireless device 102). Rebootof the mobile wireless device 102, however, cannot occur in the midst ofa device activation process as described herein. Similar to SIMre-insertion, the mobile wireless device 102 can disable and thensubsequently re-enable the eSIM 208, repeating as needed with back-offtimers to delay each attempt until successful attachment occurs or amaximum number of retries is reached.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate diagrams 700, 720 of an exemplary sequence ofactions performed for installing and activating an eSIM 208 to a mobilewireless device 102 after deactivation of an associated, correspondingSIM or eSIM 208 for a second mobile wireless device 102. At 702, an MNOinfrastructure server 438 receives a sales order for a mobile wirelessdevice 102, which can occur online or at a point-of-sale retail store,where the sales order includes an indication that an eSIM 208 should beinstalled and activated on an eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device102. At 704, an MNO infrastructure server 438 sends an ES2+ downloadorder message to an MNO provisioning server 116 in response to receiptof a sales order for a mobile wireless device 102, the sales orderincluding an indication of selection of an eSIM 208 for subsequentdownload, installation, and activation for the mobile wireless device102. In some embodiments, the download order includes an EID for theeUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device on which the eSIM 208 will beloaded. At 706, the MNO infrastructure server 438 sends a park ordermessage to a device manufacturer MNO services server 436, the park ordermessage including information regarding a sales order for the mobilewireless device 102 and for one or more eSIMs 208 reserved forinstallation on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102.Exemplary information in the park order message include a hardwareidentifier for the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., an internationalmobile equipment identifier (IMEI), a hardware identifier for the eUICC108 of the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., an EID, and a unique serialnumber (SN) for the mobile wireless device 102. The park order messagecan also include an indication that download, installation, andactivation of the one or more eSIMs 208 for the mobile wireless device102 will occur at a future time (e.g., a delayed tethered actionindication). The park order message can further include an indicationwhether an eSIM 208 is reserved for the mobile wireless device 102(e.g., a Boolean value), an identifier for the eSIM 208, e.g., an ICCIDvalue. The park order message can also include, when transferringcellular service for a previous SIM/eSIM 208 to the mobile wirelessdevice 102, a previous SIM/eSIM identifier value, e.g., a source ICCIDvalue, a phone number for transfer, and identifiers for an MNO 114associated with the SIM/eSIM 208, e.g., PLMN, GID1, and/or GID2 values.At 708, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 sends to the MNOinfrastructure server a response message including status responsive tothe park order message received. The actions at 702, 704, 706, and 708can occur as part of a sales order process for purchase of the mobilewireless device 102 with reservation of an eSIM 208, where the salesorder process can, in some embodiments, occur substantially separated intime from a subsequent device activation process that downloads,installs, and activates the eSIM 208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102, e.g., as part of a device activation process. Insome embodiments, the sales order process and device activation process(including download, installation, and activation of the eSIM 208) canoccur substantially in the same time frame, e.g., as part of anin-person device purchase and device activation process at a retailoutlet.

At 710, the mobile wireless device 102 can send a message to the devicemanufacturer MNO services server 436 to activate cellular services forthe mobile wireless device 102. This message can occur as part of adevice activation process for the mobile wireless device 102 initiatedby a user (or a sales associate). At 712, the device manufacturer MNOservices server 436 can send a find park order message to the MNOinfrastructure server 438 to locate and confirm the previously indicatedpark order for the mobile wireless device 102. The find park ordermessage can include information for locating the park order, such ashardware identifiers for the mobile wireless device 102, e.g., IMEI,EID, SN #, as well as a reference indicator of the MNO 114 (carrier). At714, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436 can subsequentlyreceive a response from the MNO infrastructure server 438 confirming anorder status for the park order associated with the MNO 114 (carrier)and information usable for authentication of a user of the mobilewireless device 102. At 716, the device manufacturer MNO services server436 can send an initiate activation message to the mobile wirelessdevice 102, where the initiate activation message can include hardwareand software identifiers associated with the park order, e.g., EIDvalue, ICCID value, source ICCID value, phone number, PLMN, GID values,as well as a credential challenge for authentication of the user of themobile wireless device 102 for installation of the eSIM 208 to the eUICC108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At 718, the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 receives a credential response forauthentication of the user to perform the eSIM 208 installation to themobile wireless device 102. At 722, the device manufacturer MNO servicesserver 436 sends an authenticate user message to an MNO infrastructureserver 438 to authenticate the user of the mobile wireless device 102,the authenticate user message including identifiers for the mobilewireless device 102, e.g., IMEI, EID, SN # values, and identifiers forthe eSIM 208 to be installed on the mobile wireless device 102, e.g.,ICCID value, carrier reference, as well as authentication informationobtained from the mobile wireless device 102. At 724, the MNOinfrastructure server 438 provides an authentication response thatindicates status of authentication of the user of the mobile wirelessdevice 102. At 726, the device manufacturer MNO services server 436sends a complete park order message to the MNO infrastructure server438. The complete park order message includes identifiers for the mobilewireless device 102, e.g., IMEI, EID, SN # values, and for the eSIM 208,e.g., ICCID value and carrier reference. The complete park order messagecan trigger the MNO infrastructure servers 438 to transfer cellularwireless subscription service from a previous SIM/eSIM 208 of a secondmobile wireless device 102. At 728, the MNO infrastructure server 438can send a confirm order message and request the MNO provisioning server116 release the reserved eSIM 208 for the mobile wireless device 102. Asa result of the complete park order message at 726 and subsequentconfirm order at 728, deactivation of a previous SIM/eSIM 208 associatedwith a second mobile wireless device 102 can occur before installationand activation of the new eSIM 208 on the mobile wireless device 102occurs.

At 730, the MNO provisioning server 116 sends an ES12 register eventmessage, triggered by the ES2+ download order and confirmation message,to a device manufacturer device services server 434, where the ES12register event message includes an indication that there is an eSIM 208(or multiple eSIMs 208) reserved for the mobile wireless device 102. TheES12 register event message can include identifiers for the mobilewireless device 102 and the eSIM(s) 208. At 732, the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 can subsequently receive a response from the MNOinfrastructure server 438 confirming an order status for the park orderassociated with the MNO 114 (carrier). At 734, the device manufacturerMNO services server 436 sends an activation ticket to the mobilewireless device 102 to initiate installation and activation of the eSIM208 for the mobile wireless device 102. At 736, the mobile wirelessdevice 102 obtains an address, e.g., a universal resource locator (URL)or equivalent, for the MNO provisioning server 116 from which to obtainthe eSIM 208. At 738, the mobile wireless device 102 downloads from theMNO provisioning server 116 to the eUICC 108 of the mobile wirelessdevice 102 one or more eSIMs 208 reserved for the mobile wireless device102 previously. At 740, the mobile wireless device 102 provides anacknowledgment receipt indicating successful installation of the eSIM(s)208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At 742, the MNOprovisioning server 116 sends an ES12 delete event message (the deletedevent corresponding to the event previously registered at 608). As theeSIM 208 has previously been released (at 728), propagation of the eSIMinformation to other MNO servers has already occurred (the eSIM 208 isimplicitly active after the confirmation order and ready for use uponinstallation at the mobile wireless device 102). Thus, a monitor mode isnot required for the scenario in which previous line deactivation occursbefore installation and activation of an eSIM. At 746, the mobilewireless device 102 attempts and succeeds in attaching to an accessnetwork portion of an MNO cellular wireless network 602. Afterattachment, if required, an over-the-air (OTA) update for the newlyinstalled eSIM 208 can occur.

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram 800 of an exemplary set of informationscreens that can be provided via a display of the mobile wireless device102 as part of an on-device activation of an eSIM 208 during a deviceactivation process for the mobile wireless device 102. Additionalinformation screens (not shown) can occur before, after, and/or betweenthe individual information screens shown in FIG. 8. A user thattransfers cellular wireless service for an eSIM 208 from a second mobilewireless device 102 can be prompted to enter a passcode for that secondmobile wireless device 102. An activation screen can confirm the phonenumber to be transferred and request the user enter authenticationcredentials to indicate authorization to transfer the phone number tothe mobile wireless device 102. Additional wireless cellular plans forother SIMs/eSIMs can also be transferred separately in the transfercellular plan information screen. The previously transferred phonenumber (from the activation information screen) can be indicated asalready transferred on the transfer cellular plan information screen.Following transfer of one or more cellular wireless plans, a user can bepresented with options for transferring additional data from the secondmobile wireless device 102 or from an associated cloud-based serviceaccount, as indicated by the transfer your data information screen.

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram 900 of a flowchart for an exemplary methodperformed by one or more network-based servers 434, 436 to provision andactivate an eSIM 208 for a mobile wireless device 102. At 902, the oneor more network-based servers 434, 436 receive from an MNOinfrastructure server 438 a park order message indicating one or moreeSIMs 208 reserved for the mobile wireless device 102. At 904, the oneor more network-based servers 434, 436 receive from the mobile wirelessdevice 102 a request activation message to activate the mobile wirelessdevice 102, where the request activation message occurs after receipt ofthe park order message. At 906, the one or more network-based servers434, 436 send to the mobile wireless device 102, after receipt of therequest activation message, an activation ticket indicating the one ormore eSIMs 208 reserved for the mobile wireless device 102. At 908, theone or more network-based servers 434, 436 receive from the mobilewireless device 102 an indication of successful installation of at leastone eSIM 208 of the one or more eSIMs 208 on an eUICC 108 of the mobilewireless device 102. At 920, the one or more network-based servers 434,436 send to the MNO infrastructure server 438 a complete park ordermessage indicating successful installation of the at least one eSIM 208of the one or more eSIMs 208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wirelessdevice 102, where the park order message causes the MNO infrastructureserver 438 to activate cellular wireless subscription service for the atleast one eSIM 208 for the mobile wireless device 102.

In some embodiments, the one or more network-based servers 434, 436 sendto the mobile wireless device 102, in response to receipt of the requestactivation message, a credential challenge to authenticate a user of themobile wireless device 102, and subsequently send to the mobile wirelessdevice 102 the activation ticket only after successful authentication ofthe user of the mobile wireless device 102. In some embodiments, the oneor more network-based servers 434, 436 receive, from an MNO provisioningserver 116, a registration event message before receipt of the parkorder message from the MNO infrastructure server 438, and subsequentlythe one or more network-based servers 434, 436 correlate informationincluded in the registration event message from the MNO provisioningserver 116 with corresponding information included in the park ordermessage from the MNO infrastructure server 438. In some embodiments,correlating the registration event message comprises comparing anidentifier for an eSIM 208 of the one or more eSIMs 208 reserved for themobile wireless device 102 included in the registration event message toa corresponding identifier for the eSIM 208 included in the park ordermessage. In some embodiments, the one or more network-based servers 434,436 receive from the MNO provisioning server 116 a delete event messagecorresponding to the registration event message after successfulinstallation of the at least one eSIM 208 of the one or more eSIMs 208on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102. In some embodiments,the one or more network-based servers 434, 436 provide to the mobilewireless device 102 after ending the activation ticket a network addressof the MNO provisioning server 116 from which to download the one ormore eSIMs 208. In some embodiments, the one or more network-basedservers 434, 436 validate whether one or more eSIM identifiers receivedfrom the mobile wireless device 102, after successful installation ofthe at least one eSIM 208 of the one or more eSIMs 208, matchcorresponding eSIM identifiers included in the park order message fromthe MNO infrastructure server 438, and subsequently send the park ordercomplete message to the MNO infrastructure server 438 only uponsuccessful validation indicating that the eSIM identifiers match. Insome embodiments, the park order message includes a delayed tetheraction indication for the one or more eSIMs 208, where at least one eSIM208 of the one or more eSIMs 208 can be activated at a future time. Insome embodiments, the MNO infrastructure server 438, responsive to thecomplete park order message, deactivates subscription service for atleast one eSIM 208 of a second mobile wireless device 102 correspondingto the at least one eSIM 208 activated for the mobile wireless device102. In some embodiments, the park order message received from the MNOinfrastructure server 438 includes integrated circuit card identifiers(ICCIDs) for the at least one eSIM 208 of the second mobile wirelessdevice 102 and ICCIDs for the one or more eSIMs 208 reserved for themobile wireless device 102. In some embodiment, the one or morenetwork-based servers 434, 436 include a device manufacturer deviceservices server 434 for communicating with mobile wireless devices 102and a device manufacturer MNO services server 436 for communicating withone or more MNO servers 438, 116.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate diagrams 1000, 1020 of a flowchart for anexemplary method performed by a mobile wireless device 102 to provisionand activate an eSIM 208 to the mobile wireless device 102. At 1002, themobile wireless device 102 sends to a network-based server 434 a requestactivation message to initiate activation of the mobile wireless device102 including initiating eSIM installation and activation for the mobilewireless device 102. At 1004, the mobile wireless device 102 receivesfrom the network-based server 434 an initiate activation messageincluding a credential challenge to authenticate a user of the mobilewireless device 102. At 1006, the mobile wireless device 102 sends tothe network-based server 434 a credential response for authentication ofthe user of the mobile wireless device 102. At 1008, the mobile wirelessdevice 102 receives from the network-based server 434, responsive tosuccessful authentication of the user of the mobile wireless device 102,an activation ticket indicating an eSIM 208 reserved for the mobilewireless device 102. At 1010, the mobile wireless device 102 establishesa secure connection to an MNO provisioning server 116 associated withthe eSIM 208 reserved for the mobile wireless device 102. At 1012, themobile wireless device 102 obtains from the MNO provisioning server 116via the secure connection the eSIM 208 reserved for the mobile wirelessdevice 102. At 1014, the mobile wireless device 102 installs the eSIM208 on the eUICC 108 of the mobile wireless device 102. At 1016, themobile wireless device 102 sends to the MNO provisioning server 116 anindication of successful installation of the eSIM 208 on the eUICC 108of the mobile wireless device 102. At 1022, the mobile wireless device102 attempts to attach to an MNO cellular wireless network 602associated with the eSIM 208. At 1024, responsive to receipt of a deviceattach failure message from the MNO cellular wireless network 602, themobile wireless device 102 executes a monitor mode process to retryattaching to the MNO cellular wireless network 602 until successfulattachment occurs or a maximum number of retry attempts is reached.

In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device 102: i) configures atime for the monitor mode process, ii) monitors for successfulattachment to the MNO cellular wireless network 602 by attempting toattach to the MNO cellular wireless network 602 and observingcorresponding responses received, and iii) while no successfulattachment occurs and before the maximum number of retry attempts isreached, after expiration of the timer, disabling and re-enabling theeSIM 208 before continuing to monitor for successful attachment to theMNO cellular wireless network 602. In some embodiments, the initiateactivation message includes an integrated circuit card identifier(ICCID) for the eSIM 208, where the eSIM 208 was previously reserved forthe mobile wireless device 102 based on a sales order for the mobilewireless device 102. In some embodiments, the initiate activationmessage further includes an eUICC identifier (EID) for the eUICC 108 ofthe mobile wireless device 102 on which the previously reserved eSIM 208is to be provisioned. In some embodiments, the mobile wireless device102: i) receives, from a second network-based server 436 responsive to aquery, a message including an indication of one or more pending eSIMs208 reserved for the mobile wireless device 102, ii) compares the ICCIDfor the eSIM 208 included in the initiate activation message receivedfrom the second network-based server 436 to corresponding ICCIDs for theone or more pending eSIMs 208 reserved for the mobile wireless device102, and iii) triggers download and installation of the eSIM 208 fromthe MNO provisioning server 116 when the ICCID for the eSIM 208 matchesan ICCID of the corresponding ICCIDs. In some embodiments, the initiateactivation message includes an ICCID for an eSIM 208 of a second mobilewireless device 102 from which subscription for the eSIM 208 is to betransferred to the mobile wireless device 102. In some embodiments, themobile wireless device 102 obtains, from the network-based server 434, anetwork address for the MNO provisioning server 116 after receipt of theactivation ticket.

FIG. 11 illustrates a detailed view of a representative computing device1100 that can be used to implement various methods described herein,according to some embodiments. In particular, the detailed viewillustrates various components that can be included in the mobilewireless device 102. As shown in FIG. 11, the computing device 1100 caninclude a processor 1102 that represents a microprocessor or controllerfor controlling the overall operation of computing device 1100. Thecomputing device 1100 can also include a user input device 1108 thatallows a user of the computing device 1100 to interact with thecomputing device 1100. For example, the user input device 1108 can takea variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, touch screen, audioinput interface, visual/image capture input interface, input in the formof sensor data, etc. Still further, the computing device 1100 caninclude a display 1110 that can be controlled by the processor 1102 todisplay information to the user. A data bus 1116 can facilitate datatransfer between at least a storage device 1140, the processor 1102, anda controller 1113. The controller 1113 can be used to interface with andcontrol different equipment through an equipment control bus 1114. Thecomputing device 1100 can also include a network/bus interface 1111 thatcommunicatively couples to a data link 1112. In the case of a wirelessconnection, the network/bus interface 1111 can include a wirelesstransceiver.

The computing device 1100 also includes a storage device 1140, which cancomprise a single disk or a plurality of disks (e.g., hard drives), andincludes a storage management module that manages one or more partitionswithin the storage device 1140. In some embodiments, storage device 1140can include flash memory, semiconductor (solid state) memory or thelike. The computing device 1100 can also include a Random Access Memory(RAM) 1120 and a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 1122. The ROM 1122 can storeprograms, utilities or processes to be executed in a non-volatilemanner. The RAM 1120 can provide volatile data storage, and storesinstructions related to the operation of the computing device 1100. Thecomputing device 1100 can further include a secure element (SE) 1124,which can represent secure storage for cellular wireless system accessby the mobile wireless device 102. The computing device 1100 furtherincludes a secure element 1124, which can include an eUICC 108 on whichto store one or more eSIMs 208.

Wireless Terminology

In accordance with various embodiments described herein, the terms“wireless communication device,” “wireless device,” “mobile wirelessdevice,” “mobile station,” and “user equipment” (UE) may be usedinterchangeably herein to describe one or more common consumerelectronic devices that may be capable of performing proceduresassociated with various embodiments of the disclosure. In accordancewith various implementations, any one of these consumer electronicdevices may relate to: a cellular phone or a smart phone, a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a personal computer, anetbook computer, a media player device, an electronic book device, aMiFi® device, a wearable computing device, as well as any other type ofelectronic computing device having wireless communication capabilitythat can include communication via one or more wireless communicationprotocols such as used for communication on: a wireless wide areanetwork (WWAN), a wireless metro area network (WMAN) a wireless localarea network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a nearfield communication (NFC), a cellular wireless network, a fourthgeneration (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), and/or5G or other present or future developed advanced cellular wirelessnetworks.

The wireless communication device, in some embodiments, can also operateas part of a wireless communication system, which can include a set ofclient devices, which can also be referred to as stations, clientwireless devices, or client wireless communication devices,interconnected to an access point (AP), e.g., as part of a WLAN, and/orto each other, e.g., as part of a WPAN and/or an “ad hoc” wirelessnetwork. In some embodiments, the client device can be any wirelesscommunication device that is capable of communicating via a WLANtechnology, e.g., in accordance with a wireless local area networkcommunication protocol. In some embodiments, the WLAN technology caninclude a Wi-Fi (or more generically a WLAN) wireless communicationsubsystem or radio, the Wi-Fi radio can implement an Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 technology, such asone or more of: IEEE 802.11a; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.11g; IEEE802.11-2007; IEEE 802.11n; IEEE 802.11-2012; IEEE 802.11ac; or otherpresent or future developed IEEE 802.11 technologies.

Additionally, it should be understood that the UEs described herein maybe configured as multi-mode wireless communication devices that are alsocapable of communicating via different third generation (3G) and/orsecond generation (2G) RATs. In these scenarios, a multi-mode UE can beconfigured to prefer attachment to LTE networks offering faster datarate throughput, as compared to other 3G legacy networks offering lowerdata rate throughputs. For instance, in some implementations, amulti-mode UE may be configured to fall back to a 3G legacy network,e.g., an Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) network or a CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 Evolution-Data Only (EV-DO)network, when LTE and LTE-A networks are otherwise unavailable.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of thedescribed embodiments can be used separately or in any combination.Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented bysoftware, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Thedescribed embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code ona non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computerreadable medium is any data storage device that can store data which canthereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the non-transitorycomputer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory,CD-ROMs, HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices.The non-transitory computer readable medium can also be distributed overnetwork-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code isstored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Regarding the present disclosure, it is well understood that the use ofpersonally identifiable information should follow privacy policies andpractices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industryor governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. Inparticular, personally identifiable information data should be managedand handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorizedaccess or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearlyindicated to users.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodimentsare presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to theprecise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art that many modifications and variations are possible in view ofthe above teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for installing and activating anelectronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) for access to services of amobile network operator (MNO) by a mobile wireless device, the methodcomprising: by the mobile wireless device: sending, to a network-basedserver, a request activation message to initiate eSIM installation andactivation; receiving, from the network-based server, responsive to therequest activation message, an initiate activation message including acredential challenge to authenticate a user of the mobile wirelessdevice; sending, to the network-based server, a credential response forauthentication; receiving, from the network-based server, responsive tosuccessful authentication of the user of the mobile wireless device, anactivation ticket indicating the eSIM reserved for the mobile wirelessdevice; establishing a secure connection to an MNO provisioning serverassociated with the eSIM; obtaining, via the secure connection, the eSIMfrom the MNO provisioning server; installing the eSIM on an embeddeduniversal integrated circuit card (eUICC) of the mobile wireless device;sending, to the MNO provisioning server, an indication of successfulinstallation of the eSIM on the eUICC of the mobile wireless device;attempting to attach to a cellular wireless network associated with theMNO using the eSIM; and responsive to receipt of a device attach failuremessage from the cellular wireless network, executing a monitor modeprocess to retry attaching to the cellular wireless network untilsuccessful attachment occurs or a maximum number of retry attempts isreached.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the monitor modeprocess comprises: by the mobile wireless device: configuring a timerfor the monitor mode process; monitoring for successful attachment tothe cellular wireless network by attempting to attach to the cellularwireless network and observing corresponding responses received; andwhile no successful attachment occurs and before the maximum number ofretry attempts is reached, after expiration of the timer, disabling andre-enabling the eSIM before continuing to monitor for successfulattachment to the cellular wireless network.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the initiate activation message includes an integrated circuitcard identifier (ICCID) for the eSIM, wherein the eSIM was previouslyreserved for the mobile wireless device based on a sales order for themobile wireless device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the initiateactivation message further includes an eUICC identifier (EID) for theeUICC of the mobile wireless device on which the previously reservedeSIM is to be provisioned.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:by the mobile wireless device: receiving, from a second network-basedserver responsive to a query, a message including an indication of oneor more pending eSIMs reserved for the mobile wireless device; andcomparing the ICCID for the eSIM included in the initiate activationmessage received from the second network-based server to correspondingICCIDs for the one or more pending eSIMs reserved for the mobilewireless device; and triggering download and installation of the eSIMfrom the MNO provisioning server when the ICCID for the eSIM matches anICCID of the corresponding ICCIDs.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theinitiate activation message includes an ICCID for an eSIM of a secondmobile wireless device from which subscription for the eSIM is to betransferred to the mobile wireless device.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: by the mobile wireless device: obtaining, from thenetwork-based server, a network address for the MNO provisioning serverafter receipt of the activation ticket.
 8. A mobile wireless devicecomprising: wireless circuitry comprising one or more antennas; and oneor more processors communicatively coupled to the wireless circuitry andto a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the mobile wireless device to install and activate anelectronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) by at least: sending, to anetwork-based server, a request activation message to initiate eSIMinstallation and activation; receiving, from the network-based server,responsive to the request activation message, an initiate activationmessage including a credential challenge to authenticate a user of themobile wireless device; sending, to the network-based server, acredential response for authentication; receiving, from thenetwork-based server, responsive to successful authentication of theuser of the mobile wireless device, an activation ticket indicating theeSIM reserved for the mobile wireless device; establishing a secureconnection to an MNO provisioning server associated with the eSIM;obtaining, via the secure connection, the eSIM from the MNO provisioningserver; installing the eSIM on an embedded universal integrated circuitcard (eUICC) of the mobile wireless device; sending, to the MNOprovisioning server, an indication of successful installation of theeSIM on the eUICC of the mobile wireless device; attempting to attach,using the eSIM, to a cellular wireless network of an MNO associated withthe eSIM; and responsive to receipt of a device attach failure messagefrom the cellular wireless network, executing a monitor mode process toretry attaching to the cellular wireless network until successfulattachment occurs or a maximum number of retry attempts is reached. 9.The mobile wireless device of claim 8, wherein executing the monitormode process comprises: by the mobile wireless device: configuring atimer for the monitor mode process; monitoring for successful attachmentto the cellular wireless network by attempting to attach to the cellularwireless network and observing corresponding responses received; andwhile no successful attachment occurs and before the maximum number ofretry attempts is reached, after expiration of the timer, disabling andre-enabling the eSIM before continuing to monitor for successfulattachment to the cellular wireless network.
 10. The mobile wirelessdevice of claim 8, wherein the initiate activation message includes anintegrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) for the eSIM, wherein theeSIM was previously reserved for the mobile wireless device based on asales order for the mobile wireless device.
 11. The mobile wirelessdevice of claim 10, wherein: the initiate activation message furtherincludes an eUICC identifier (EID) for the eUICC of the mobile wirelessdevice on which the previously reserved eSIM is to be provisioned. 12.The mobile wireless device of claim 10, wherein execution of theinstructions further causes the mobile wireless device to install andactivate the eSIM by at least: receiving, from a second network-basedserver responsive to a query, a message including an indication of oneor more pending eSIMs reserved for the mobile wireless device; andcomparing the ICCID for the eSIM included in the initiate activationmessage received from the second network-based server to correspondingICCIDs for the one or more pending eSIMs reserved for the mobilewireless device; and triggering download and installation of the eSIMfrom the MNO provisioning server when the ICCID for the eSIM matches anICCID of the corresponding ICCIDs.
 13. The mobile wireless device ofclaim 8, wherein the initiate activation message includes an ICCID foran eSIM of a second mobile wireless device from which subscription forthe eSIM is to be transferred to the mobile wireless device.
 14. Themobile wireless device of claim 8, wherein execution of the instructionsfurther causes the mobile wireless device to install and activate theeSIM by at least: obtaining, from the network-based server, a networkaddress for the MNO provisioning server after receipt of the activationticket.
 15. An apparatus configured for operation in a mobile wirelessdevice, the apparatus comprising one or more processors communicativelycoupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors, cause the mobile wireless device to install andactivate an electronic Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) by at least:sending, to a network-based server, a request activation message toinitiate eSIM installation and activation; receiving, from thenetwork-based server, responsive to the request activation message, aninitiate activation message including a credential challenge toauthenticate a user of the mobile wireless device; sending, to thenetwork-based server, a credential response for authentication;receiving, from the network-based server, responsive to successfulauthentication of the user of the mobile wireless device, an activationticket indicating the eSIM reserved for the mobile wireless device;establishing a secure connection to an MNO provisioning serverassociated with the eSIM; obtaining, via the secure connection, the eSIMfrom the MNO provisioning server; installing the eSIM on an embeddeduniversal integrated circuit card (eUICC) of the mobile wireless device;sending, to the MNO provisioning server, an indication of successfulinstallation of the eSIM on the eUICC of the mobile wireless device;attempting to attach, using the eSIM, to a cellular wireless network ofan MNO associated with the eSIM; and responsive to receipt of a deviceattach failure message from the cellular wireless network, executing amonitor mode process to retry attaching to the cellular wireless networkuntil successful attachment occurs or a maximum number of retry attemptsis reached.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein executing the monitormode process comprises: configuring a timer for the monitor modeprocess; monitoring for successful attachment to the cellular wirelessnetwork by attempting to attach to the cellular wireless network andobserving corresponding responses received; and while no successfulattachment occurs and before the maximum number of retry attempts isreached, after expiration of the timer, disabling and re-enabling theeSIM before continuing to monitor for successful attachment to thecellular wireless network.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein theinitiate activation message includes an integrated circuit cardidentifier (ICCID) for the eSIM, wherein the eSIM was previouslyreserved for the mobile wireless device based on a sales order for themobile wireless device.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: theinitiate activation message further includes an eUICC identifier (EID)for the eUICC of the mobile wireless device on which the previouslyreserved eSIM is to be provisioned.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein execution of the instructions further causes the mobile wirelessdevice to install and activate the eSIM by at least: receiving, from asecond network-based server responsive to a query, a message includingan indication of one or more pending eSIMs reserved for the mobilewireless device; and comparing the ICCID for the eSIM included in theinitiate activation message received from the second network-basedserver to corresponding ICCIDs for the one or more pending eSIMsreserved for the mobile wireless device; and triggering download andinstallation of the eSIM from the MNO provisioning server when the ICCIDfor the eSIM matches an ICCID of the corresponding ICCIDs.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the initiate activation message includesan ICCID for an eSIM of a second mobile wireless device from whichsubscription for the eSIM is to be transferred to the mobile wirelessdevice.